Polling for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s bypolls in 12 wards will be held today from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, with 51 candidates in the fray. Results will be declared on December 3. The outcome is expected to reflect voter sentiment after the Bharatiya Janata Party’s strong showing in the assembly elections earlier this year.
580 Booths Set Up Across 143 Polling Stations
According to the Delhi State Election Commission, voting will take place at 580 booths set up across 143 polling stations. The bypolls cover the wards of Greater Kailash, Shalimar Bagh B, Ashok Vihar, Chandni Chowk, Chandni Mahal, Dichaon Kalan, Naraina, Sangam Vihar A, Dakshin Puri, Mundka, Vinod Nagar and Dwarka B. Eleven of these seats became vacant after their councillors were elected to the Delhi Assembly, including Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who previously represented Shalimar Bagh B. The Dwarka B seat has remained empty since 2024, after former councillor Kamaljeet Sehrawat won the West Delhi Lok Sabha seat.
Of the 51 candidates, 26 are women. The BJP has nominated eight women, AAP six, and the Congress five. Before they fell vacant, nine of the 12 wards were held by the BJP, while AAP controlled Chandni Chowk, Dakshinpuri and Chandni Mahal. The MCD currently has 116 BJP councillors, 98 from AAP, 15 from the Indraprastha Vikas Party, eight from the Congress and one independent. In Shalimar Bagh B — the ward earlier represented by the Chief Minister, the main contest will be between the BJP’s Anita Jain and AAP’s Babita Ahlawat.
Political Tussle Intensifies Ahead of Voting
The AAP suffered a setback on Saturday after former two-time MLA Rajesh Gupta joined the BJP, claiming he was not valued within the party. Responding to the move, Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj said Gupta had been seeking a councillor ticket for his wife, which the party was unable to provide, and wished him the best for the future.
The Congress, meanwhile, is also hopeful of making gains. Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Devender Yadav said that voters were growing disillusioned with both the BJP and AAP.
For polling day, the State Election Commission has put in place a range of transport and technology arrangements. DTC buses will begin operating at 3:00 am, while Delhi Metro services will start at 4:00 am on both polling and counting days. Night bus services on 28 routes will run without interruption, and the last metro will leave all terminal stations at 11:30 pm on polling day.
‘Nigam Chunav Delhi’ App to Assist Voters
One of the Commission’s key initiatives is the “Nigam Chunav Delhi” mobile app, available on both Android and iOS, which provides several voter-friendly features. Through the app, voters can check the real-time status of queues at their polling station using the Queue Management System (QMS), search for their names in the electoral roll, and locate their polling booth using their EPIC number or Google Maps.
The app also lists details of contesting candidates, allows users to file complaints with photos or videos, and enables senior citizens aged 85 and above, as well as PwD voters, to request wheelchairs, assistants, or pick-and-drop facilities.
